title: Lung ultrasound: its role in neonatology and pediatrics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung ultrasound (LUS) has become more and more popular in the first decade of the 21(st) century, both in neonatal and in pediatric age groups. Several papers addressed the usefulness of this procedure mainly because of its possibility to be utilised at the bedside, without risk of irradiation along with simple and immediate interpretations of the images.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to update the knowledge on LUS related to the most common neonatal respiratory diseases and some pediatric acute lung diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the technique of LUS execution, the normal LUS appearance and the LUS findings in the most common neonatal and pediatric acute diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  LUS findings related to neonates of different gestational age as well as of pediatric patients from infancy to childhood are shown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Issues on the evolution and effect of treatment related to LUS findings of neonatal and pediatric respiratory diseases are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LUS depicted peculiar and reproducible patterns in all the lung diseases described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of LUS in the clinical field seems to be a reasonable and easy-to-use practice that can be considered an extension of the clinical exam. As a consequence of this feature, LUS, to fully express its potential, must be performed by the clinician in charge of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. cattarossi.luigi@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cattarossi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059246:Tachypnea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*